CJP Publishes Report on Freedom of Expression in Ecuador

CJP publishes report on freedom of expression in Ecuador

A report that explains the current situation of the free expression in Ecuador, entitled Confrontation, repression in Correa’s Ecuador”, was published yesterday by the Committee to Protect of Journalist (CPJ.)

This document outlines some cases in which President Rafael Correa has used criminal and civil laws as “tools against dissent” (case El Universo Newspaper, case “El Gran Hermano” book.)

The CPJ details that laws of criminal defamation, smear campaigns (through state media,) and measures adopted in the last referendum are some precautions to control and harassment took by the present government against the press in Ecuador.

The report questions whether Correa has created a legal framework “to restrict the media,” referring to the plebiscite question number 3 (that prohibits shareholders and owners of media to have their own business) and No. 9 (the adoption of a law Communication to create a Council for the regulation of media content).

The third component of the strategy of harassment to the press has been the creation of “a network of state media.” According to the report, the media (public and seized) serve the president, “to discredit journalists who expose opposing views to the policies applied in his administration.” (BG)

Source: El Universo Newspaper